The Russellville Regional Airport Commission learned Wednesday night during its regular meeting that the PAPI and REIL lighting system grant offer was received, processed and accepted.

Engineer Bob Chatman explained that Rick McGinty Co. of Greenbrier submitted the low bid of $98,160 to install new runway end identifier lights (REIL) and precision approach path indicator (PAPI) systems. Chatman said a preconstruction conference with the contractor will be scheduled, and the contract must be signed by Mayor Bill Eaton. He estimated eight weeks for the contractor to get the equipment.

The 90/10 grant — paid for 90 percent by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and 10 percent by the Arkansas Department of Aeronautics (ADA) — was approved by the Russellville City Council and cost the city absolutely nothing, airport commissioners emphasized. The FAA’s portion totaled $217,840, while the grant total appropriation was $242,045.

Commissioners plan to conduct an informal meeting Wednesday to discuss and generate ideas for the airport’s Master Plan. The “wish list” of proposed improvements for the next five years and beyond will be submitted to a firm, and the public will be invited to a future meeting to review and ask questions about the airport’s plan.

Commissioners told Manager Bobby Day to seek bids for a new, renovated fuel truck. The council’s Budget Committee approved $60,000 for the purchase of a truck and to renovate the fuel system for the airport’s needs.

Day reported the fuel sold in July totaled 5,620 gallons, higher than the 5,281 sold during July 2013.

“There were 44 self-service sales and 44 full-service sales,” he explained. “Self-service sales totaled 768 gallons, an average of 18 gallons per sale, compared to 1,744 gallons from full-service sales, an average of nearly 40 gallons per sale.

“Volume increased 11.24 percent compared to the same month the previous year.”

Commissioners agreed that self-service fuel sales from the new self-service pump were helping overall volume.

“I predict it will grow,” Commissioner Dwight Talburt said.

Day added the airport’s hangar occupancy rate in July was 81 percent, an improvement from the low 70s in previous months. He also attended the retirement ceremony for state Aeronautics director John Knight at the Governor’s Mansion in Little Rock.

The runway approach lighting improvements, part of the airport’s master plan for 2014, consist of a glide slope guidance system for the east end of the runway (Runway 25) and a runway end identifier light system for the west end of the runway (Runway 7).

The PAPI system consists of four lights that turn progressively from white to red as seen by the pilot from a too-high to a too-low position. A pilot on a correct glide slope sees two red and two white lights. More white lights appear when they are too high, and all red lights indicate a pilot is too low. The last light must turn red with at least one degree clearance above the highest obstacle within 10 degrees either side of the runway centerline.

A REIL system increases the probability that pilots will be able to spot the runway when breaking out of the clouds after an instrument approach in low-visibility weather.